TxDOT administers a number of federal grant programs, as well as state
dollars appropriated for transit projects. Descriptions of the various grants
are included below.
|
Discretionary Capital |
|
Discretionary Capital grants (49
USC, Section 5309) provide funds for new rail systems,
modifications for existing rail systems and assistance for
bus systems. Funds are provided for three primary
activities:
- New and replacement buses and facilities
- Modernization of existing rail systems
- New fixed guide-way systems
Eligible Recipients
Discretionary capital grants or loans are awarded to state and local public
bodies.
Funding
Federal funds may be used to defray up to 80 percent of the cost of eligible
expenditures. The local share is 20 percent on most projects. However, the
Federal Transit Administration
encourages applicants to develop projects with greater non-federal match to
secure funding. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Clean Air
projects may receive up to 90 percent federal funding.
|
|
|
Elderly Individuals and
Individuals with Disabilities |
|
The Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Public Transportation
grants program (49
USC, Section 5310) provides funding to improve accessibility and mobility
for the elderly and disabled. Local stakeholder forums or committees plan and
design the transportation services, which are operated by existing transit
providers.Eligible Transit Providers
Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Transportation
grants are awarded to private nonprofit organizations, public agencies that
coordinate services for the elderly and disabled and for-profit companies that
certify that no local nonprofit organizations provide such services.
Funding
The funds are awarded directly to the transit provider and may be used for
eligible capital expenses, which include, but are not limited to:
- Acquiring transportation service from other local transportation
providers
- Buses, vans or other public transportation vehicle
- Radios and communication equipment
- Vehicle shelters
- Wheelchair lifts and restraint
Based on funding availability, federal funds may be used to defray up to 80
percent of the cost of eligible capital expenses. Fund allocations are
calculated using the latest county census figures for the elderly and disabled
population.
Related Links
|
|
|
Intercity Bus |
|
All urban areas in Texas have intercity bus service (ICB), and many points are
served in more remote areas. There are approximately 271 stops in Texas.
Eligible Transit Providers
Intercity service is provided for the general public and connects urban areas
through fixed routes. Greyhound and Trailways are the most commonly known
companies that provide this service.
Funding
The Rural program (49
USC, Section 5311) has 15 percent of its budget allocated to fund ICB, which
is designed to strengthen the connection between rural areas and the larger
regional or national intercity bus system. ICB also supports the system's
infrastructure through planning, marketing assistance and capital investment in
facilities and vehicles.
ICB has previously funded projects such as the construction and
rehabilitation of intermodal terminals and the upgrade of facilities to comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
|
|
|
Job Access and Reverse
Commute (JARC) |
|
TxDOT administers the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) grants program (49
USC, Section 5316) to provide transportation to and from urban and suburban
workplaces. Grants are awarded for public transportation projects in areas with
populations less than 200,000.Goal and Objectives:
The goal of the JARC program is to promote public transportation services
targeted to employment-related transportation needs. To achieve this goal, its
objectives are to:
- work in partnership with local officials, public and nonprofit agencies
and public transit providers
- implement the JARC program with other federal and state programs that
support public employment and human service transportation
- foster the development of local, coordinated public and human service
transportation plans from which JARC projects are derived
- support local economic development
- provide technical assistance to our partners, thereby improving the
efficiency and effectiveness of the JARC program
Project Types
Job access projects include:
- funding for projects that provide public transportation to welfare
recipients and eligible low-income individuals
- promoting public transportation use by low-income workers, including
those with nontraditional work schedules
- promoting the use of employer-provided transportation, including the
transit pass benefit program under
Section 132
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
- supporting mobility management and coordination programs among public
transit providers and other human service agencies who provide
employment-related transportation services
- facilitating or providing transportation to welfare recipients and
low-income individuals for employment-related purposes
Reverse commute projects include:
- subsidizing the costs of adding reverse commute bus, train, carpool, van
routes or service to suburban workplaces
- subsidizing the purchase or lease by a nonprofit organization or public
agency of a van or bus dedicated to shuttling employees from their
residences to suburban workplaces
- supporting mobility management and coordination programs among public
transit providers and other human service agencies that provide
employment-related transportation services
- otherwise facilitating or providing public transportation services for
suburban employment
Eligible Recipients
State agencies, local government authorities, private nonprofit
organizations, private for-profit transportation operators and operators of
public transportation services are eligible to receive Section 5316 (JARC) funds
administered by TxDOT.
Eligible Assistance Categories:
- Capital Expenses - Federal funds may be used to
reimburse up to 80 percent of eligible capital expenditures.
- Project Administration -
Administrative costs associated with a JARC project are eligible for a
federal reimbursement rate of 50 percent.
- Planning Activities - The
federal reimbursement rate is 80 percent.
- Marketing Projects - The
federal reimbursement rate is 80 percent.
- Operating Expenses -
Operating expenses are reimbursed at 50 percent of net operating expenses.
Local Share Requirements Eligible match sources include local, state
or federal programs. These include funds disbursed from the Texas Workforce
Commission, local workforce development boards, human service agencies and the
Medicaid Medical Transportation Program.
Unrestricted federal funds are also eligible as match, such as Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families [(42
USC 603(a)(5)(C)(vii)]. With prior department approval, in-kind
contributions, volunteer services and donations directly attributable to the
project are eligible as local share if the value is documented.
Other Information
|
|
|
New Freedom |
|
The New Freedom grants program (49
USC, Section 5317) helps individuals with disabilities by providing both new
public transportation and public transportation alternatives beyond those
required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), including
transportation to and from jobs and employment-support services.Eligible
Transit Providers
Eligible recipients agree to provide transportation services designed to meet
the New Freedom project guidelines and include:
- state agencies
- local governmental authorities
- private nonprofit organizations
- operators of public transportation services
Funding Federal funds may be used to reimburse up to 80 percent of
eligible capital expenditures and may increase to up to 90 percent for
incremental costs related to compliance with the Clean Air Act or the ADA.
Administrative costs associated with the project as well as net operating
expenses are eligible for a federal reimbursement rate of 50 percent.
|
|
|
Rural Public Transportation |
|
The Rural Public Transportation grants program (49
USC, Section 5311) helps people in rural areas access health care, shopping,
education, employment and recreation. Currently, there are 39 operators
providing public transportation in rural areas and small cities with populations
under 50,000.Eligible Transit Providers
Grant recipients include state agencies, local public bodies, private
nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes and public transportation operators.
Private for-profit transit operators may participate in the program through
contracts with eligible recipients. A company must be in a
rural
transit district, a political subdivision containing multiple counties to
provides rural public transportation, to receive funds.
Funding
Program funds may be used for capital, planning, operating and administrative
costs, with a maximum federal funding ratio for capital, planning and
administrative costs of 80 percent and a maximum state/local match of 20 percent
on most projects. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Clean Air
projects may receive up to 90 percent federal funding. The funding ratio for net
operating costs is 50 percent federal match and 50 percent state/local
match. Eligible recipients can apply for funds annually through
our districts. Transit Roadeo
Program The Transit Roadeo Program provides financial assistance to rural
transit agencies conducting Roadeos.
|
|
|
Planning and Research |
|
The Planning and Research grants programs (49 USC, sections
5303 and
5304) provide funds to
metropolitan planning organizations
for transit or highway planning and awards TxDOT monies for
statewide transit planning and research.Funding
Federal funds may be used to defray up to 80 percent of the cost of eligible
expenditures. The local share is 20 percent for both Section 5303 and Section
5304.
Section 5303 funds are administered in partnership with the Federal Highway
Administration 112 planning funds through our Transportation Planning and
Programming Division. The Public Transportation Division monitors transit
activities and submits required reports to the Federal Transit Administration.
|
|
|
United We Ride |
|
The United We Ride
grants program is a federal interagency initiative to foster transportation
coordination and break down barriers between federal transit and human-service
programs. It supports states by providing planning self-assessment tools,
technical assistance and other resources.
|
|
|
Small Urban Public
Transportation |
|
The Small Urban Public Transportation federal grants program (49
USC, Section 5307) enhances mobility in urbanized areas.
There are 29
urban operators providing transportation in
areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000.
Eligible Transit Providers
Transit providers serving populations between 50,000 and 200,000 are
eligible. McAllen and Arlington, both with populations over 200,000, are
included because they are eligible for state funds.
Funding
Urban transit systems receive funding from a variety of sources, including
the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Section 5307 and
5309 grants, state grants, transit fares and local revenues such as
advertising, contracts and city general revenue funds.
Federal and state funds are available for capital, planning and operating
costs. Capital funds can be spent on buses and bus facilities, fixed guide-way
system projects, technology introductions and innovative techniques and methods.
Planning funds are available for engineering design, evaluation of public
transportation projects and other technical studies. Allowable operating
expenses are limited to direct labor, materials and overhead expenses incurred
by the transit operator. Program funds may be used for capital, planning,
operating and administrative costs, with a maximum federal
funding ratio for capital, planning and administrative costs
of 80 percent and a maximum state/local match of 20 percent
on most projects. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) and Clean Air projects may receive up to 90 percent
federal funding. The funding ratio for net operating costs
is 50 percent federal match and 50 percent
state/local match. Funds are distributed by the FTA using
a formula based on population and population density. In
areas with populations over 200,000, grants are awarded
directly to the local recipient. Grants for urban areas with
populations under 200,000 may be made to the governor or to
local recipients designated by the governor. Currently,
cities apply directly to FTA.
|
|
Effective July 11, 2008, the Public Transportation Division has
implemented a new annual process for soliciting competitive grant
proposals for Federal Transit Authority-funded programs. Formula
program processes will remain unchanged. The following federal
programs have funding available for grant projects at this time:
This annual program call will be posted each summer, proposals will be due in
the winter and awards will be made in mid-to-late spring of the following year.